MD Weather: Hogan Urges Storm Prep, Flood Watch Extended

BALTIMORE, MD — The last thing a soggy Maryland needs is more rain, but heavy rain is moving into the state Thursday through Friday night, and officials have extend a flood watch for the region. Organizers of Baltimore area Bike to Work Day canceled Friday's events in advance of the threatening forecast, while residents of Frederick are under a state of emergency and orders to conserve water after 6 inches of rain Monday night, bringing historic flooding to that area. And parts of the state may get another 5 inches of rain before it's all over.

The National Weather Service has issued a flash flood watch for most of Maryland, with a flash flood warning for Frederick. Localized areas of flooding of small streams and urban areas are possible Thursday and overnight for portions of northern Virginia, central and eastern Maryland, and the District of Columbia. A flood watch is in effect for the Baltimore/Washington/Annapolis metro area from 2 p.m. Thursday through Saturday morning. This is for the potential for flooding from heavy rain, the NWS says.

Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan urged residents to prepare for more rounds of storms and flooding. “It is essential that everyone continue to monitor forecasts this week, prepare your homes and families for more rain, and avoid driving during thunderstorms," he said in a statement. "Remember – turn around, don’t drown!”

You can be weather prepared by following these safety tips:

• Never enter an area where water is flowing over a road and you cannot see the pavement. During flooding, turn around, don’t drown.
• Keep communications devices charged during storms so that you will have a way to follow weather forecasts and communicate with your family, friends, and neighbors.
• If a severe thunderstorm warning is issued or if you are experiencing strong winds, get to a sturdy shelter and stay indoors and away from windows.
• If you hear thunder, you are close enough to be struck by lightning. More than 98 percent of lightning casualties are from people outdoors — get indoors or inside your vehicle if possible.
• Know who to contact in case of a power outage and report power outages to your utilities provider.
• Document any damages to your home, property, and business and give this information to your insurance company.

The Maryland Emergency Management Agency is working with local officials in Frederick and Washington counties to assess damages caused by flooding and coordinate any needed assistance from the state.

Residents can find additional preparedness information on MEMA’s website at mema.maryland.gov. The agency will also be posting updated information throughout the week on social media. You can follow MEMA on Twitter @MDMEMA or on Facebook at www.facebook.com/MDMEMA.

The flood watch includes these areas: Anne Arundel, Carroll, Allegany, Howard, Montgomery, Baltimore, Harford, Montgomery, and Prince George's counties. The District of Columbia and parts of northern Virginia are also under the watch through Saturday morning.

Cities in the watch area include: Eldersburg, Westminster, Reisterstown, Cockeysville, Baltimore, Bowie, Suitland-Silver Hill, Clinton, College Park, Greenbelt, Laurel, Camp Springs, Glen Burnie, Annapolis, Severn, South Gate, Severna Park, Arnold, Odenton, Frostburg, Cumberland, Germantown, Damascus, Bethesda, Rockville, Gaithersburg, Silver Spring, Lisbon, Columbia, Ellicott City, Jarrettsville, and Aberdeen.

The flood watch takes effect at 2 p.m. Thursday and runs through 8 a.m. on Saturday.

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Periods of rain will continue across the region through at least Friday. This rain will be heavy at times, with overall additional rainfall totals of 3 to 5 inches. While flash flooding cannot be ruled out, the primary concern is flooding of small streams and low-lying areas. Streams are already elevated and soils saturated from earlier rainfall, increasing the flood threat, the Weather Service warns.

"Locally heavy rains are likely at times starting later today and continue Friday and possibly into Saturday," says The Washington Post's Capital Weather Gang. "Both today and Friday, daily rainfall records could fall. Showers are more limited by later in the weekend, but tropical air will surge in Sunday to Monday, leading to sauna-like conditions."

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Flood Warning For Frederick

The National Weather Service has issued a flood warning for the Monocacy River near Frederick until further notice. At 6 a.m. Thursday the stage was 12.8 feet and rising; flood stage is 15.0 feet. Moderate flooding is forecast.

Forecasters expect the river to rise above flood stage by early Thursday afternoon and crest near 17.7 feet by mid-Saturday afternoon. The river should then begin to fall, but is expected to remain above flood stage until further notice. At 17 feet significant lowland flooding is occurring along the river and numerous roads are closed. Water is approaching the parking lot at Gambrill Mill on the Monocacy National Battlefield. Backwater flooding from Carroll Creek is likely approaching the underside of the bridge leading to the Frederick city wastewater treatment plant. This crest compares to a previous crest of 18.6 feet on May 17, 2014.

Here's the latest forecast:

Thursday: Showers, with thunderstorms also possible after 3pm. High near 71. Northeast wind around 6 mph. Chance of precipitation is 90%. New rainfall amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible.

Thursday Night: Showers and possibly a thunderstorm. Some of the storms could produce heavy rainfall. Low around 62. East wind around 7 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100%. New precipitation amounts between a half and three quarters of an inch possible.

Friday: Showers, with thunderstorms also possible after 3pm. Some of the storms could produce heavy rainfall. High near 66. East wind 9 to 13 mph, with gusts as high as 21 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100%. New rainfall amounts between 1 and 2 inches possible.

Friday Night: Showers and possibly a thunderstorm. Low around 57. East wind 8 to 14 mph, with gusts as high as 21 mph. Chance of precipitation is 90%. New precipitation amounts between 1 and 2 inches possible.

Saturday: Showers. High near 72. East wind 5 to 7 mph becoming south in the afternoon. Chance of precipitation is 90%.

Saturday Night: Showers. Low around 66. Chance of precipitation is 90%.

Sunday: Showers likely, mainly before 9am. Partly sunny, with a high near 84. Chance of precipitation is 60%.

Sunday Night: A chance of showers before 9pm. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 68. Chance of precipitation is 50%.

Monday: A chance of showers after 9am. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 82. Chance of precipitation is 40%.

Monday Night: A chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 65. Chance of precipitation is 50%.

Tuesday: Showers likely. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 79. Chance of precipitation is 60%.

Tuesday Night: Showers likely. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 63. Chance of precipitation is 60%.

Wednesday: A chance of showers. Partly sunny, with a high near 79. Chance of precipitation is 50%.

Photo of flooding in Frederick, Maryland, via Montgomery County Fire & Rescue Spokesperson Pete Piringer